A former soldier who was on duty during the Queen's coronation was today attending the Westminster Abbey service to mark the 60th anniversary of the event.
John Cowley, from Coalville, had just finished training with the Grenadier Guards in June 1953.
Because he had not been assigned to a battalion, he was unable to join his comrades in their scarlet dress uniforms on parade in places such as The Mall.
He was on duty in Victoria, in the khaki day-to-day guardsman's uniform.
But today, 78-year-old Mr Cowley was to be inside Westminster Abbey, among the thousands of invited guests.
He said: "I'm really looking forward to it.
"I was in the abbey four years ago when the Queen was there for a service commemorating the passing of the country's last three First World War veterans.
"It's a lovely place and it was my first time inside, although I've been on duty outside on guards of honour many times.
"I was 18 when I signed up. I had always wanted to be in the Grenadier Guards and I was standing on duty, somewhere in Victoria, I think.
"I had only been to London once before, on a school trip, so it was all a bit of an experience."
Mr Cowley, who is chairman of the Leicestershire and Rutland branch of the Grenadier Guards Association, went on to stand guard at Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Windsor Castle.
He took part in Trooping the Colour twice. He also served in Suez and Cyprus.
Mr Cowley said: "The invitation to Westminster Abbey for the anniversary of the coronation came up in conversation when the Queen came to Leicester last year and we formed a guard of honour at The Magazine."
Accompanying him will be Ronald Fletcher, secretary and treasurer of the Leicestershire branch.
Among the other guests will be Manjula Sood, chairwoman of Leicester Council of Faiths.
She said: "I feel very honoured to be invited and to be representing the city."
Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Jennifer, Lady Gretton, will also be at the service.
Others there include: Susan McEniff and James Munton, of Leicester Charity Link; Ranjit Kaur Aulakh, of Leicester Council of Faiths; Canon Barry Naylor; Neil Townsend, of the Korean Veterans Association; and cadets Jessica Barnes and Georgia Pathy, from Welbeck Defence College, Woodhouse.
